Great Britain's Vickers Medium Mk II, Mk IIA, Mk II*, Mk II**

Photos

Medium Mk II:Royal Armored Corps Tank Museum

Design

Vickers Armstrongs designed and built this tank during the 1920s-30s. This was the first post-World War I tank to go into service with the Royal Tank Corps. Was considered the first "fast tank" in service.

Medium Mk II Female: Constructed for Indian government. Only machine guns in the turret.

Medium Mk IIA: Had commander's cupola. The bevel at the rear of the turret was removed. Ventilator fan was installed forward of the side door.

Medium Mk IIA*: Had containers added for radios on the back of the turret.

Medium Mk IIA CS: Had 3.7" howitzer/mortar installed for close support role. Could fire a 15 lb shell. Could fire a smoke shell out to 1,000 yards. Usually two were added to each company headquarters.

Medium Mk II*: Added commander's cupola. Hotchkiss machine guns in turret were replaced by a single Vickers machine gun. A lead counter weight was added as the commander's cupola was positioned more to the rear.

Medium Mk II* Special: Four ordered by Australia. Coaxial Vickers machine gun was on the left and the 3 pdr on the right.

Medium Mk II* Command: A wooden dummy gun replaced the 3 pdr. The turret was fixed and contained two radios.

Medium Mk II**: Twin mountings for the 3 pdr and Vickers machine guns along with a commander's cupola. Containers added to back of turret to house radio equipment.

Usage

Entered service with the British Army in 1925/1926 and was used until 1941. Primarily used for training. Some were used in North Africa and Greece.

Egypt

In 1928 five Medium Mk II (Tropical), that had been modified for conditions in North Africa, were sent to Egypt.

At Mersa Matruh a few Mark II Mediums were buried up to their turrets to be used as pillboxes.